GENDER-BASED AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE: Sciences Po reports on the recommendations of its working group
Bénédicte Durand, Acting President of Sciences Po, today received the conclusions of the working group on gender-based and sexual violence (GBV), set up at her initiative on 17 February 2021. The report reviews the information collated by the working group to put forward a set of recommendations - in accordance with the objective that it was set - for strengthening and fostering a culture of respect, civility and equality at Sciences Po.
For two months, the working group, chaired by Danièle Hervieu-Léger, conducted an independent review with the objective of proposing an ambitious plan to meet the high expectations articulated by the various Sciences Po communities on the issue of gender-based and sexual violence.
Main conclusions:
In terms of identifying and preventing risk situations through training and research, the working group recommends, in particular:
“I would like to salute the very high quality of the work carried out by the sociologist Danièle Hervieu-Léger, Chair of the working group, and all its members. This set of 61 measures forms a system and signals a renewed commitment by our institution, which should lead to a lasting awareness among all of our communities about the issue of gender-based and sexual violence. First of all, the measures must enable us collectively, through training and research, to better identify the cluster of behaviours and warning signs, and to propose a better identified and more effective response and support system, and to formalise more solid disciplinary procedures. Under our supervision, we will propose an approach and a timetable for implementation before the end of the academic year”, said Bénédicte Durand, Acting President of Sciences Po.
“The group I chaired worked in a collaborative, open and calm manner on a delicate and particularly sensitive subject within the student and university communities. We would like to thank all the people we spoke to who helped us to develop considered and tangible responses. We have confidence in the capacity of the Sciences Po teams to implement them”, said Danièle Hervieu-Léger, sociologist and Chair of the working group.
About Sciences Po
Sciences Po is a selective research university of international standing based on the values of openness and excellence. Sciences Po's unique academic model combines expertise in human and social sciences, multidisciplinarity and a professional grounding to educate professionals and citizens able to understand and transform society. Diversity is a key element of Sciences Po's identity. The student body comprises 47 percent international students from 150 different countries and 26 percent scholarship students (up from 6 percent in 2000).
Press contact:
Marie Frocrain: marie.frocrain@sciencespo.fr / 01 49 54 37 71
For two months, the working group, chaired by Danièle Hervieu-Léger, conducted an independent review with the objective of proposing an ambitious plan to meet the high expectations articulated by the various Sciences Po communities on the issue of gender-based and sexual violence.
Main conclusions:
In terms of identifying and preventing risk situations through training and research, the working group recommends, in particular:
- The introduction of a mandatory, generalised GBV awareness training programme for everyone and a range of in-depth training sessions for certain groups according to their roles and responsibilities. These training sessions will be repeated and renewed in order to encourage the emergence of a genuine shared culture.
- For students in particular, a focus on making students more aware of ways of containing risk situations, strengthening checks and controls, and putting in place a security protocol for parties organised by student associations. A ‘departure kit’ summarising all the useful information for students during their period outside Sciences Po (internships, professional placements, exchange year abroad, etc.) is also recommended. Finally, the fight against cyberbullying should also be strengthened.
- Science Po’s firm support for activities and new research initiatives aimed at developing knowledge of gender-based and sexual violence and at disseminating all teaching and training (including the proposal to create a professorship and to conduct research on GBVs at Sciences Po).
- Greater prominence of the Gender Equality Action Plan at Sciences Po.
- An increase in the number of local measures dedicated to reporting incidents, increased coordination of these measures and the deployment on all campuses of a network of reference people.
- The outsourcing of the psychological support service for victims of GBV to a qualified and specialised team.
- Strengthening of the mechanism in place for providing information, legal advice, material and educational support for witnesses and victims of GBV.
- Formalising the procedures and systematically triggering an internal investigation following a report of an incident.
- The judicialisation of procedures and the use of professionally qualified personnel on the internal investigation body, with the implementation of measures to protect victims during the course of the procedure.
- The production and dissemination of information on disciplinary procedures and sanctions to the entire Sciences Po community and the publicising of sanctions imposed, while preserving the anonymity of those involved.
“I would like to salute the very high quality of the work carried out by the sociologist Danièle Hervieu-Léger, Chair of the working group, and all its members. This set of 61 measures forms a system and signals a renewed commitment by our institution, which should lead to a lasting awareness among all of our communities about the issue of gender-based and sexual violence. First of all, the measures must enable us collectively, through training and research, to better identify the cluster of behaviours and warning signs, and to propose a better identified and more effective response and support system, and to formalise more solid disciplinary procedures. Under our supervision, we will propose an approach and a timetable for implementation before the end of the academic year”, said Bénédicte Durand, Acting President of Sciences Po.
“The group I chaired worked in a collaborative, open and calm manner on a delicate and particularly sensitive subject within the student and university communities. We would like to thank all the people we spoke to who helped us to develop considered and tangible responses. We have confidence in the capacity of the Sciences Po teams to implement them”, said Danièle Hervieu-Léger, sociologist and Chair of the working group.
About Sciences Po
Sciences Po is a selective research university of international standing based on the values of openness and excellence. Sciences Po's unique academic model combines expertise in human and social sciences, multidisciplinarity and a professional grounding to educate professionals and citizens able to understand and transform society. Diversity is a key element of Sciences Po's identity. The student body comprises 47 percent international students from 150 different countries and 26 percent scholarship students (up from 6 percent in 2000).
Press contact:
Marie Frocrain: marie.frocrain@sciencespo.fr / 01 49 54 37 71
